Oregon escapes Berkeley with low-scoring victory

Nov 14, 2010 - 7:30 AM
Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - The top-ranked Oregon Ducks came into
Saturday's action having scored at least 42 points in each of their first nine
games, but on a day when the offense wasn't clicking, the defense and special
teams came through to keep their national title hopes alive.

Cliff Harris returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown in the first half, and
the Ducks' (10-0, 7-0 Pac-10) defense stopped California on what proved to be
a crucial two-point conversion attempt in a 15-13 win over the Golden Bears to
remain unbeaten.

The Bears (5-5, 3-4) also saw three critical points go by the wayside in the
opening moments of the fourth quarter, when kicker Giorgio Tavecchio was
called for an inexplicable illegal motion penalty on a 24-yard field goal
attempt. Forced to move back five yards, Tavecchio shanked the ensuing try,
and Oregon held on for the victory after an impressive final drive that erased
the final 9:25 of the game.

"A win's a win. We're happy. We're 10-0," said Oregon head coach Chip Kelly.
"We have this week to improve in practice - we'll practice a couple days this
week - and get ready for a really good Arizona team. That's what this league
is all about, and I've said it from day one: winning on the road in this
conference is very difficult, and we've been fortunate four times."

Darron Thomas threw for 155 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-29 passing for the
Ducks, who are 10-0 for the first time in team history and host a ranked
Arizona team in two weeks. LaMichael James became the second-leading rusher in
school history with 91 yards on 23 carries, and Jeff Maehl caught five passes
for 84 yards and a score.

Brock Mansion, filling in for an injured Kevin Riley, struggled to complete
passes, throwing for just 69 yards on 10-of-28 efficiency for the Bears. Shane
Vereen ran for 112 yards and a touchdown in the close defeat, as Cal gained
just 193 yards in the game.

"(The defense) played their hearts out. There is no question about it," said
Cal head coach Jeff Tedford. "To give up one touchdown against that offense;
they played great. The defensive coaches had a great plan; the kids executed
it. All week long they sold out in the preparation. The belief and intensity
going into the game was awesome. It is a shame, it's a shame. I feel sick for
the kids."

Oregon, which led, 8-7, following a low-scoring first half, forced Vereen to
fumble the ball away on the second play from scrimmage in the second half. The
Ducks recovered at the opposing 29, and Thomas threw a 29-yard touchdown pass
to Maehl on the next play for a 15-7 advantage.

"Just a great play call by Chip, scheming it up coming out of halftime," Maehl
said. "They were playing man the whole game. It was just a crossing route to
try and get a pick, and Darron put it on me."

Rob Beard missed a 48-yard field goal that would have given the Ducks a two-
possession lead, and the offense began at its 12 following a punt from Cal
with just over nine minutes left in the third.

Thomas went back to pass, but Derrick Hill swatted the ball out of his hand as
he went through his throwing motion; the ball bounced back into the end zone,
and Hill recovered it for a Bears touchdown and two-point game.

Attempting to tie the game, Mansion's pass play failed, and Oregon maintained
its slim lead.

On the Bears' next possession, they got all the way down to the Ducks' four
before facing a 4th-and-5 from the seven. Tavecchio lined up for the field
goal, which he hit from 24 yards away, but the referees negated it with an
illegal motion penalty on Tavecchio, who did not reset after he began to run
prior to the snap.

Cal still had an opportunity to take a one-point lead, but Tavecchio's 29-yard
attempt sailed wide right.

The Bears' next drive wasn't nearly as successful, and they punted the ball
away with 9 1/2 minutes to go. The Ducks were able to run off the remainder of
the clock, converting four third downs on the ensuing 18-play series,
including a game-sealing, seven-yard run by James on 3rd-and-5 from the Cal
19.

"Coach Kelly told us in the huddle before we went out there that this was
going to be the drive of the year," Thomas said. "This was going to be the
drive we were going to remember. Go out there and put it away."

The Bears got off to a good start on their opening drive, traveling 49 yards
in just six plays. Vereen capped the series with a one-yard run to give the
hosts an early 7-0 advantage.

The Ducks failed to score in the first quarter, but their special teams got
them on the board in the second. Cal went three-and-out near the midway point
of the quarter, and Harris was able to return a punt 64 yards to the end zone.

As Oregon often does, it went for the two-point conversion, which was
successful after Dion Jordan scampered into the end zone for an 8-7 lead.

Game Notes

Cal still leads the all-time series, 39-32-2...Oregon was held to a season-low
317 yards of offense...The Bears fell to 0-11 all-time against the top-ranked
team...Oregon has won 22 of its last 25 conference games...The Ducks' closest
game prior to Saturday had been an 11-point win over Arizona State...James
passed current Carolina Panthers running back on Oregon's all-time rushing
list. James now has 2,968 career rushing yards...With the win, the Ducks'
senior class became the all-time winningest class in school history.